Earth With Dungeon: Saving the World With an Economic Boom

Chapter 198. Jun

“Is it an ironwork?”

The maintenance shop was built by renovating the parking lot of a building a little away from Amatsugahara Corporation headquarters. There, with oil smeared on his nose, wearing his work clothes, Jun asked Nanbu-san to repeat himself.

To prevent injuries, the maintenance shop requires long-sleeved work clothes even in midsummer. Sweat dripped down his forehead, occasionally making his mouth taste salty.

“Looks like it. This town has grown quite a bit now.”

Nanbu-san said, gripping a spanner and inspecting a jeep. Jun looked around while changing the jeep’s oil, nodding in agreement. There were many vehicles, and many people besides Jun were diligently working on maintenance.

The shop was always noisy, filled with the clanging and buzzing of machinery, and shouts often added to the commotion.

“What do they do at an ironworks?”

“Various things. I don’t really understand either, but it’s like a jack-of-all-trades for iron products. Katsuyori mentioned wanting to make agricultural machinery in-house.”

With his arms folded, Nanbu-san gave a vague answer, indicating he didn’t fully understand either. He was a former maintenance soldier, living a life far removed from ironworks.

“Can they really make agricultural machinery themselves?”

Jun had maintained countless agricultural machines, but manufacturing one using metalworking seemed extremely difficult. Detailed blueprints and skilled craftsmanship were needed. He’d never made one before and would also need to manufacture IC chips.

“First, they need to acquire the necessary machinery. A lathe isn’t something an amateur can make.”

Nanbu-san folded his arms, looking troubled.

“They look easy to make, but they aren’t.”

Lathes, though they look simple, are complex. Jun thought it was just a matter of rotating a circular saw, but they’re made with delicate techniques.

Even one piece of manufacturing equipment contains the wisdom of humanity, as a colleague from the outer town had told him.

People were continuously flowing in from the outer town, attracted by the abundant job opportunities and money-making prospects.

“That’s right. They’ll procure everything from the inner town. If you have the funds, why not buy an ironworks?”

“I don’t have that kind of money. I’ve saved up a bit, but…”

Despite receiving special bonuses, Jun didn’t have that much money. It would cost tens of millions of yen. Recently, he had become able to do multiplication and division, so he had a rough idea.

Muneta had said that whenever something costs a lot, think in terms of tens of millions. He hit him on the head in anger, though.

“Well, that’s true. Knowing our president, he’ll make a huge investment in equipment, costing hundreds of millions.”

Jun realized he had miscalculated by an order of magnitude. With that much money, couldn’t he live comfortably? Equipment investments require a lot of money.

“Well, whatever form it takes, it’s certain you’ll become an executive. The president will want a trustworthy person in that position.”

“Do you think I’m that trustworthy?”

He was indeed one of the first employees of Sakimori-san. But that was because he was a child and Sakimori-san was kind. Could he consider himself trusted? He’d been given food, a place to live, and work. He’d received so much.

“I believe you are. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be made an executive.”

“Hmm… It makes me happy to think I’m trusted.”

When Jun responded, Nanbu-san smiled kindly and ruffled Jun’s hair roughly.

“Hey, Nanbu-san. Don’t ruffle my hair with oily hands.”

“Haha, it’s fine. Being straightforward is more childlike and cute.”

Jun couldn’t help but smile at the lively exchange with Mr. Nanbu. Other than Sakimori-san, Nanbu-san was the only one who ruffled his hair. As an orphan, such interactions warmed his heart.

“If I’m told to work at the ironworks, I will. I’ll do my best.”

“Right. Now, let’s get back to work.”

“Okay. I’ll finish up this jeep.”

After a short break, they returned to work. Many vehicles were waiting for maintenance.

They worked until evening, finishing the maintenance. Jun’s metalworking skills allowed him to identify deteriorating parts, making his work several times faster than others.

After greeting everyone and heading outside, the sky was orange, and people were walking home.

“What’s the plan for tonight?”

“How about a drink?”

“Apparently, there’s a new food stall.”

“Shall we check it out?”

Many adults seemed to be heading for a drink. Jun was still too young for alcohol. That was far in the future.

Walking home, he thought about dinner.

“Jun, why not have dinner at my place today? My mother wants to meet my friend Jun.”

A slightly older girl with a smile approached Jun. She was the child of someone who had recently started working at the maintenance shop, also from the outer town, working like Jun. She helped in the office.

Impressed by her intelligence, typical of an outer-town child, Jun wondered why she often talked to him lately. Maybe because he’d saved her when a giant rat appeared, but that was a common occurrence in the abandoned town.

“Sorry, I think dinner is being prepared at home. It’s Muneta’s turn to cook, so it’ll probably be something hearty.”

Jun waved and declined the dinner invitation.

Since they all worked together, cooking duties rotated. Mune made beautiful clothes but was sloppy with food. It would probably be fried rice, curry, or pilaf. Jun hoped for a curry. His cooking wasn’t much different, though.

You’s cooking is mediocre too, and the best is Hana’s. The next best is Hina’s. Hana finishes work before evening, so she has time to cook and prepare several dishes. When is Hana’s turn to cook?

“Yeah, it’s tough to accept a sudden invitation. How about next time? I’ll ask my mom to make a feast for you! Lots of meat!”

The girl clapped her hands and tilted her head, saying it was a great idea. Meat! A feast with lots of meat sounded amazing!

“Uh… thanks. Maybe next time.”

“Hey, you should head home now. It’s time for kids to be back.”

Nanbu-san called out with a laugh, making Jun nod. The girl pouted for some reason.

“Well, you are a kid. Haha, no need to worry about it,” Mr. Nanbu laughed heartily.

“If you think that, then don’t interfere.”

“Well, well, girls mature faster even if they’re the same age. If she’s older… haha. Be careful, kid.”

“Don’t laugh, Nanbu-san.”

Waving his hands, Jun told the angry girl that he was heading home. What a day.

He walked back to the headquarters. Sakimori had told him to be careful because he was now wealthy. But the girl didn’t seem to have any bad intentions, so he wasn’t particularly wary.

Food stalls lined the street to the headquarters. With so many people now working around the headquarters, they were there to serve them.

There were ramen stalls, oden stalls, and even yakitori stalls, making Jun’s stomach growl. He thought about buying some takeout for the next time he had cooking duty.

Many people were eating at the stalls. Last year, this place was deserted and goblins roamed the ruins. It was hard to believe.

The cheerful noise around made Jun feel happy. It wasn’t much different from the outer town anymore. In fact, the ruined town might even be more prosperous now.

Thinking how amazing Sakimori-san was, Jun arrived at the headquarters and headed home.

“I’m back!”

“Welcome back.”

Hana was already home, answering leisurely. Hina, Muneta, and You were not back yet. The little girl was always around, appearing out of nowhere.

The remodeled office now looked like a regular house. It was like a mansion.

There were sofas, tables, and even a proper kitchen. Okubo-san had remodeled it. They even had a bath and toilet installed.

Jun washed his hands, gargled, and sat on the sofa. It had been a tiring day, but he had heard some interesting news.

Hana brought a glass of cold water, and Jun drank it to cool down his summer-heated body.

“They’re talking about building an ironworks.”

Jun shared the story he heard from Nanbu-san, and Hana tilted her head.

“What’s an ironwork?”

“It’s like a factory. They make all sorts of things. I might end up working there.”

Since Nanbu-san had mentioned it, Jun thought it was probably decided. He had started to understand such nuances recently.

“A factory? Where would they build it?”

Hana asked while returning to the kitchen, even though it was supposed to be Muneta’s turn to cook.

“That’s the thing. Probably somewhere away from the headquarters, since it’s a factory.”

How would he commute if it was far away? If they had to move, they might all be separated, which he didn’t want. They had survived by sticking together.

“But you want to work at the ironworks, right?”

Hana saw through Jun’s thoughts. Yes, he wanted to try making new machines. The thought of building cars himself excited him.

“Well, it depends on where the ironworks is built. If it’s far, we’d all be separated. Muneta just got a shop, and I have a field, so I can’t leave here. Hina runs around the headquarters. The little girl won’t leave Sakimori-san.”

“So it’d just be me who’d leave?”

Jun puffed his cheeks, feeling left out.

“In that youth movie we watched, everyone went their separate ways to follow their paths. But in reality, I don’t think we’ll all suddenly split up.”

Hana laughed, finding it funny, though Jun was serious.

“If it’s not as far as the Tsukuba Line fortress, it should be fine. I want to stay with you, Jun. It’d be lonely otherwise.”

Seeing Hana smile and say she’d be lonely made Jun’s cheeks feel hot. He felt like a child, though he was one.

“Hana, you’ve become so responsible.”

“Well, I give instructions and explanations to adults a lot in agriculture, so I’ve grown up.”

Seeing Hana proudly puff out her chest made Jun internally find her childish, feeling a bit relieved.

“Yeah, it’s best if we all stay together! I’ll talk to Sakimori-sam about building it near the headquarters. I am an executive, after all.”

Feeling determined, Jun’s heart felt lighter. He wanted to stay with everyone.

The door opened, and he heard someone call out, “I’m back!” Jun responded, thinking how important his family was to him.